Dispensing machine



Oct; 23, 1,945,1` F. tsar-:GAR Erm. 2,387,470

` DIsPENsING MACHINE Filed Feb.` 14, 1944 `2 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 23,1945# F. T. SEEGAR ETAL DISPENS ING -MACHINE Filed Feb. 14. 1944 2 Sheecs--Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 23, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT ,OFFICE A i r l 2,387,470Q" U DISPENSINGMACHINE o Fred '.r. seegar and William Pannen, chicago, nl. `,applicanon February 14, 1944, serial No. 522,242

eciaims. (ol. V31e-fai) `This invention relatesto a machine, or device, for individually f dispensing `cylindrical objects, such as sanitary soda or drinking straws for fountain or home use in sipping or drinking various beverages from bottles orglasses.

An object `of the invention is to provide a simple and economical device for holding a 'supply of drinking straws or the like, protected from exposure to dirt and dust,` and for `dispensing thesame singly in a `clean and sanitary `condition, as desired for use by a person, thus obviating the necessity or custom of holding a supply of straws ina carton exposed to unsanitary conditions, dirt and dust, through an opening suinciently large to permit the entrance of the iingers o in removing the straws `for use `and which usually `resultsin ngering or fumbling over the same with resultant `contamination or uncleanliness so undesirable in connectionwith such practice.

` tray or plate down which the discharged straw rolls into a position to permit convenient grasping `thereof in the center, and `removal without touching the ends of the straw which dip into the beverage, or enter the mouth ofthe drinker.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispensing or discharge means which will prevent thestraws from feeding more than one at a time, or becomingvjammed or clogged with resultant'squeezing or crushing, so as .to render them `unfit for use.

Further objects and advantages will appear,

and be brought out more fully in the following 40A specication, reference being had to the accompanying'drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a dispensing machine,`or device, constructed in accordancewith the invention. i

Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof. Fig; 3 is an `enlarged vertical longitudinal sectional view, taken on the line 3-i3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4x is an enlarged horizontal longitudinal sectional view, taken on the line `4II` of Fig. 1.

,Eigmis a vertical transverse' sectional view,

` takenon` the line 5-5 of Fig. 3, showing the dispensing :roller in position to receive a straw, and 6i is a similar viewtaken on the line 6 6 position after receiving a straw, and indicating the discharge positions of the dispensing grooves or seats thereof.. 1

Referring more particularly to the drawings in detail, the dispensing machine or device is shown as comprising a casing I0, which may be of sheet material, such as metalGor plastic, of oblong rectangular shape, forming an elongated and relatively deep container or hopper for holding a supply of` cylindrical objects, such as drinking straws II. This casing has a front wall I2, end walls I3 and a rear or back wall I4, the sheet forming which may be joined at one corner by overlapping the ends and soldering, or otherwise fastening the same together, as indicated at I5.

The top of the casing is open and may be closed by a flanged cover I6. Also,rthe top or other exposed edges of the sheet material may be folded over, as indicated at I1, to avoid sharp edges. The front of the casing may have an opening I8 with a grooved retainer I9 at -thetop, and a groove 2n at the bottom for receiving and holding a transparent window 2| through which the supply of straws, or

observed. A

The bottom of the hopper is open and the iront wall terminates at a point spaced from the bottom where it is directed or bent inwardly at an obtuse angle relative to the upper portion to form adeector 22. The end walls I3 are cut out intermediately, as indicated at 23, to form recesses'at the bottom and provide corner legs 24 for supporting the casing upon a counter, or other posed in acute-angled relation to the vertical portions 25 and incline inwardly in opposite directions toward each other to form a `container or hopper within the casing for accommodating a relatively large supply of straws Il, or the like. The lower edges of the inclined portions 28 are spaced apart to form a longitudinal opening of; Eiglgf; but showing. the.. dispensing roller in Rotatably mounted in the end walls 'I3 in and' other similar objects, may be therebetween, extending almostto the end walls beneath the opening between said edges, is a rotatably supported circular feeding or dispensing member or roller 29. 'I'his roller 29 is somewhat the shape of a spool, having a reduced central cylindrical portion 30 and longitudinally spaced enlarged cylindrical portions 3| of the same size, outwardly thereof, with their peripheries parallel to the axis of the roller 29.

The outer ends of the portions 3| are normal to the axis, and the inner ends of portions 3| are beveled Olltapered inwardly at 33 to joint the smaller intermediate portion 30. The enlarged portions 3| are each provided with a pair of diametrically opposite longitudinal seats or grooves 32 in the peripheries thereof parallel to the axis of the roller 29 and extending into the beveled portions 33 at the inner ends of the enlarged portions 3|. The extreme ends of the feed roller 29 may have further reduced cylindrical or other portions 34 adjacent the end walls I3 to receive trunnions or shafts 35 at the axial center of the roller 29 for rotatably supporting the latter in bearings 36 supported in the end walls I3. For this purpose, the end walls may have openings 31, and each of the bearings comprises an mounted on their outer ends, knobs or handles 4|, threaded, or otherwise secured in position so as to x them to the shaft and roller whereby the roller may be easily turned by hand from either end and in either direction.

The lower edges of the inclined plates 28 are recessed to substantially conform to the peripheral contour of the roller, having recesses 28a at the ends, and a central projection 28D extending in to the recess formed by the reduced portion 30 and the beveled portions 33, in close proximity to I the peripheral surface of the roller.Y In this way, the periphery of' the roller 29, together with a straw heldin the longitudinally aligned grooves or seats 32, will clear the edges of the portions 28 l and the straws will be retained parallel to the axis and prevented-from being deflected at an angle or becoming jammed or clogged between the roller and the bottom of the hopper formed by said plates. This insures proper feeding of the straws upon rotation of the roller in either direction.

Disposed beneath the hopper and roller is a forwardly inclined tray or plate 42, which may be held in position by means of a lug 43 secured at its back edge 44, so as to extend through horizontal slots 45 in the back or rear wall I4. This lug is bent downwardly against the back wall to removably secure the tray 42 in position and to permit its removal so that the roller 29 may be entered at the bottom of the casing in assembling the device or for repair and replacement purposes, unless inserted at thetop before the angular plates 25 are mounted in position.

The plate forming the tray 42 is supported in a forwardly inclined position by means of vlugs 46 directedinwardly at the bottom edges of the end walls I3 at the cutouts or recesses 23, and extends forwardly of the front of the casing where it is turned upwardly, as indicated at 41, to form retaining means for the straws, which are discharged upon the tray and roll forwardly thereof.

The front edge of the tray at the center is provided with a semi-circular recess or cutout 48 to permit entrance of the fingers in grasping and removing the straws at the center or intermediately of the lengths thereof, and removal With- Vout touching the ends of the straws, which are,

thus, maintained in a more sanitary condition where they dip into the beverage or enter the mouth of the drinker.

In the use and operation of the device, a supply of straws is dumped into the hopper or container manner shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, at any point between the edges of the plates 28 at the opening or slot provided therebetween.

As the roller is turned further, in the manner shown in Fig. 6, the straw in the seat will pass beneath the lower edge of a plate 28 so that thev roller and the straw will both clear said edge, said plate preventing the other straws from being jammed or clogged, and thus, crushed or mutilated, which would render them unfit for use. this manner, the straws are delivered unimpaired, andv when the groove or seat passes to a point below the axis of the roller, as also indicated in Fig. 6 of the drawings, the straw will drop out by gravity onto the tray 42 and roll down toward th'e front against the retaining portion 41, there to be easily grasped at the recess or notch 48 and removed, as heretofore explained. f

Thus, it will be seen that the straws` willlbeV picked up by one of the seats, as the roller is turned, and irrespective of the direction in which the roller is turned. will be carried around with the roller and downwardly to be discharged upon the tray in either of the positions indicated in the solid or dotted lines at the klower portion of the roller 29 in Fig. 6 of the drawings. f

The deector 22 will serve to deflect the straws rearwardly when they are discharged frornthe roller at the front when turned forwardly, and will prevent a person from passing their fingers upwardly to be squeezed between the front wall and the roller.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims. i Y

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a dispensingdevice of the class described, a casing having oppositely inclined walls having their inner edges spaced to form an `opening therebetween and a hopper thereabove, 'a feeding roller horizontally supported for rotation beneath the opening, said roller having a central reducedV portion, the edges of the walls being formed with central tongues and end recesses to conform to the periphery of the roller, said roller having! a.

longitudinal groove in its periphery in the direction of th'e axis of the roller, and an inclined tray supported below the roller and having a linger recess therein.

2. In a, dispensing device of the class described, a, casing open at the top and bottom, a cover lfor the casing, oppositely inwardly inclined Walls in i, the casing having their inner edges spaced to form a central longitudinal opening, a rotatable member journaled in the casing at the ends of the openingand having a central reduced portion and enlarged end portions, longitudinal grooves Cil form a central longitudinal opening, a rotatable member journaled in the casing at the ends of the opening and having a central reduced portion and enlarged end portions, longitudinal grooves in said end portions, the edges of said walls substantially conforming to the peripherall contour of the rotatable member and in close proximity thereto, said casing adapted to receive cylindrical objects, such as drinking straws, above said walls to be fed by gravity into the grooves for discharge below the axis of the rotatable member upon turning the latter, means `at the ends of th'e rotatable member for turning the same, and a forwardly inclined tray removably supported in the casing beneath the rotatable member and having a central recess in its .lower edge and stops on either side thereof, one side of the casing terminating inspaced relation to the tray.

FRED T. SEEGAR. WILLIAM PANITCH. 

